SOLA SCRIPTURA…is a Christian doctrine which states that The Bible is the supreme authority in all matters of practice and belief. Paraphrased, it means… “by Scripture alone”. Therefore, if we hold that as Truth, we are bound to what It says.

Last night, in the Republican debate, a candidate stated he would show unconditional love for a friend who was a homosexual. He stated he had attended this friends “wedding”.
The gentleman continued to say that he could love this person without condoning their lifestyle choices.

I agree completely.

I would refrain from going to the “wedding”.
That would be condoning or taking part in the blessing of disobedience. I can show the instructed love of Jesus to a homosexual friend without blessing or condoning the disobedience.

A very close friend of mine had been separated for a year and was divorcing his wife, with whom I was also friends.
He invited my wife and I to meet a woman he was “dating” and planning to marry, after the divorce was final.
My wife said she could not go because he was yet to be divorced. Her words convicted me.
I was and still am close friends with him…..but did not attend the invited dinner..

We are told in Scripture that Jesus did not hesitate to eat with tax collectors. He did not refuse to
give time, attention and blessing to the Samaritan woman at the well. He did not condemn the woman brought to Him, having been supposedly caught in adultery. He released her from the punishment aimed at her, then told her to go and “sin no more”. He did not condone their disobedience.
He did show them His Love.

Condemnation should only be rendered by a proper Judge.

We are not proper Judges.

In the heaviest doctrine in the New Testament, Paul dates that there is “no condemnation” to those in Christ. Jesus withheld from condemning most sinners.
Hanging on the Cross, your Savior looked at one hanging for the right reasons, next to Him,
did not rehearse any sin the man had committed and told him he would be in Heaven shortly. That was proper Judgment from One who had earned His Robe.

Scripture also tells us that Jesus spoke the words which instruct us today to “Love Thy neighbor as thyself”.
This new commandment, was said by Jesus, to be HIS commandment to His followers.

Therefore, we ought not to condemn those around us. Nor ourselves.

Be careful with what comes out of your mouth.

Judgement and condemnation flow easily out of a proud and disobedient heart. What does Scripture say?

Any words rendered along those lines might come back to roost in your own life. Leveling judgment upon your self is a disobedient act, as well.

We are to love ourselves, God made us.
We are to love those like and unlike us. God created them and granted them life, as well. You can love those who are living in disobedience….
because you have been and might be living in some degree of disobedience, yourself.

We put degrees on disobedience, on sin.

Sin is sin is sin is Sin.

Putting degrees on sinful behavior is judging behavior
Homosexuality is no worse a sin in Gods eyes than the sin you committed last week.

Read that again.

Name an atrocious sinner….Hitler, Jeffrey Dalmer….
Paul said he himself was chief among sinners.
So am I.

I. cannot. judge. anyone.

The Love of Christ compels us to love as He did.
If He did it…we can do it, as well.
He said we could, in John 14.

Feeling guilt after a disobedient act is not God condemning you. The Spirit will convict us of disobedience.
That conviction can, and maybe should, bring guilt.
It’s not condemnation.

That guilt should lead us to confession and repentance…..
and restoration.

Some believers think that the conviction which leads to guilt is condemnation. Romans 8 tells us this is not the case.

Conviction keeps, or should, keep us from “living in a sin”. Conviction and the subsequent guilt should stop us shortly after stumbling. And therefore, keep us from slouching further into dwelling in a disobedience.

It’s not condemnation.

Conviction is a rescue by The Holy Spirit.

If we hold the SOLA SCRIPTURA position….
which Hebrews 4:12 and 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us we should …
then we must hold to the Truth that we are not to condemn or judge ourselves or anyone.

If we excuse our own behavior using Paul’s definition in Romans 7….
“The things I do want to do I don’t, the things I don’t want to do , I do…. It is no longer I, but the sin living within me”….
then we are bound to define the sins of others the same way.

Without condoning, accept.
Without judging, love.
Without condemning, allow the Love and Mind of Christ to rule your behavior toward yourself and those in your realm.
Act as He did.

When we act in love toward another….we edify, elevate and encourage them.
When we judge and condemn another….we sentence them and ourselves.

Leave it up to The One Who earned His Position paying for our disobedience.

Terry
August, 2015